Safe Schools

Ashland Public Schools and the State of Kansas continue to actively work on bullying prevention. The Kansas State Department of Education, in partnership with Kansas Children’s Service League, is proud to announce the availability of the Bullying Prevention Hotline. This free, anonymous service is available to provide counsel and resources to those who have questions or concerns about bullying situations

The 24-hour hotline can be reached at (1-800-332-6378 or 1-800-CHILDREN). You can also contact the hotline via text or e-mail at 1800children@kcsl.org.

Provided through a Safe and Supportive Schools grant, the hotline is staffed by trained professionals and volunteers who listen to each caller’s concerns and seek to provide the caller with resources to assist him or her. In the coming months, you will receive hotline posters that we hope you will post in your schools to ensure students and those who visit your school are aware of the hotline and know the number.

The Bullying Prevention Hotline should not be confused with the Kansas School Safety Hotline. The School Safety Hotline should still be used to report potential violent acts at schools. Students who feel unsafe at school could call either hotline; the professionals at the Bullying Prevention Hotline will forward any calls where they feel there is the potential for violence, or that a student may harm him or herself or others to the School Safety Hotline.

For more information and resources, click the link below:Kansas Bullying Prevention Program
EMERGENCY SAFETY INTERVENTION (ESI) LAW
Since April 2013, all public school districts and accredited private schools have been required to comply with emergency safety intervention regulations developed by the Kansas State Board of Education. These regulations are still in effect and were recently amended. In 2015, the Kansas Legislature passed statutes on emergency safety intervention, which were amended during the 2016 legislative session and went into effect on July 1, 2016. The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and the Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) have revised the emergency safety intervention resources and developed resources to help districts fulfill their obligations under the amended law and inform staff and families of these revised requirements. Here is an overview of some of the revised resources. Please visit www.ksdetasn.org and click on Emergency Safety Interventions Resources in the menu on the left for a full list of available resources.

Jason Flatt Youth Suicide Awareness Act
The Kansas Legislature passed SB 323 which is known as the Jason Flatt Youth Suicide Awareness Act. This provision requires each school district to provide suicide awareness and prevention programming to all school staff.

If you or a friend need to talk with a counselor for help or for resources available in your area, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you.